Psychiatric Characteristics of Adolescents with Minor Offenses and Follow-Up after a 6-Month Protective Disposition.
- Author:
Un Sun CHUNG
1
;
Sang Soo SEO
;
Seung Jae LEE
;
Sung Hoon JEONG
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea. jshun@knu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Minor Offender;
Delinquent Behavior;
Psychiatric Characteristics;
Screening;
Protective Disposition;
Follow-Up Study
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Aged;
Anxiety;
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders;
Criminals;
Depression;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Manifest Anxiety Scale;
Mass Screening;
Self Concept;
Self Report;
Suicidal Ideation;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
2010;21(2):95-102
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the differences between the psychiatric characteristics of minor juvenile offenders and normal adolescents as well as differences in psychiatric symptoms after a six month protective disposition. Further, the current study aimed at determining psychiatric screening methods for evaluating delinquent adolescents. METHODS: The Latent Delinquency Questionnaire (LDQ), the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Reynolds Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ), the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Inventory (SCI), and the Korean Youth Self Report (K-YSR) were administered to 134 normal adolescents (114 males) and 109 minor offenders (97 males) aged 12 to 16 years. After six months, 46 offenders (all males) completed the RCMAS, CDI, SIQ, and SCI again. RESULTS: Adolescents with minor offenses had more delinquent, aggressive behavior and externalizing behavior problems, but were significantly less depressive, anxious, or suicidal than normal controls. Further, recidivists had more anxiety, depression, and delinquent behavior than non-recidivists. Minor offenders reported that their anxiety and depressive mood decreased after six months of protective disposition. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with minor offenses had more delinquent, aggressive behavior and externalizing behavior problems suggesting that psychiatric screening tools for minor offenders should measure disruptive behavior disorder.
